As I mentioned in my last post, Darrius and I spent 5 days in the Dominican Republic celebrating my 31st birthday. Our home for those 5 glorious days was Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa. Approximately 25 minutes from the airport, the palatial all-inclusive resort was breathtaking at first glance. Once we drove past the huge brass gates, our eyes were fixed on the beautifully landscaped surroundings, as well as the pristine outdoor lobby. We were greeted with a glass of champagne, then escorted to the front desk. Darrius, a hospitality professional, and expert, immediately mentioned how accommodating and knowledge the staff was. I couldn’t agree more!
Outdoor Lobby
King Room with Pool View (Photo Credit)
Views from the Balcony
Our room was almost identical to the one pictured above. The only difference was our room had a gorgeous view of the garden and sandy beach. Darrius and I were very impressed with the cleanliness of the rooms, as well as the huge shower/tub. I forgot to snap a picture, but that shower was massive!
We arrived later in afternoon on the first day, so we spent most of our time lounging and napping. We did, however, venture to the other side of the resort for dinner. Of the six à la carte restaurants we chose to dine at the international buffet, World Café,. From sushi to pizza, to fresh fruit and the decadent dessert bar, the options were endless! World Café was our choice most mornings as well because it’s the only restaurant on the resort to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We made it a point to visit a new restaurant each night for dinner. My favorite meal was from Oceana. The salmon literally melted in my mouth, and the shrimp Cesar salad was divine! Darrius was a huge fan of his mussels appetizer from Seaside Grill, as well as the hearty beef stew prepared at the Bordeaux. Below are the restaurants we visited, along with a brief description.
Oceana – Á La Carte Specialties & Fresh Seafood
Seaside Grill – Grilled Steaks & Hamburgers
Bordeaux – Delectable French Cuisine
World Café – International Buffet
Aside from eating VERY well, we also made time to enjoy the lovely beach and pool area. The older I get, the more I become a beach lover. We spent hours at the beach, just relaxing on our beach bed and playing in the ocean, on our first full day. The beach beds were heavenly, and the unlimited food and drink service was superb! The fresh paella, warm breeze, and sun rays made for such an enjoyable experience.
We decided to spend a day a the pool later in the week. From the swim-up bar to the poolside lunch, Darrius was in his world! While lounging and swimming, we met a few nice families from Atlanta and California and a newly married couple from Virginia. It never fails; whenever we go somewhere we meet at least one new person, couple or family. I guess we both have friendly faces?
The one day we decided to go off the resort was to enjoy a morning in the middle of the ocean. Yep, our speed boating and snorkeling excursion placed us smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic. This adventure was a bit outside of my comfort zone. Not because I can’t swim, but because I’ve never been swimming so far out in the ocean! Putting my reservations aside, we decided to let Darrius drive the speedboat, which was a very smart decision because I probably would have only driven 6 MPH the entire time. When it came to snorkeling, I must admit that I shocked myself. I fearlessly jumped out of our boat and went for it. The experience was one I will NEVER forget!
Afterwards, we zipped off to a shallow, and absolutely gorgeous, island for rum and coke and swimming. We frolicked in the water for about a 30 minutes or so, chatting with the other travelers from England, France, and Canada. The day couldn’t have been more perfect. The excursion was certainly worth every dime! Below are a few pictures of our adventure. I haven’t uploaded them from the excursion CD to my laptop just yet, but I think you can get a sense of how much fun we had.
So tell me, have you ever been to Punta Cana? Does my experience make you want to book a trip? Let me know!
This trip was very special for us because it was our first out of the country trip together. It was also our first official vacation since we’ve been married. Our honeymoon was a bit unconventional, which we both thoroughly enjoyed, but this trip to Punta Cana seemed like a “real” honeymoon. I can’t wait to share many more adventures with Darrius, and I look forward to those travel experiences with you all as well. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!
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The post WNJ Travels | The Dominican Republic, Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa appeared first on Whitney Nic James.
